Mixing unit for portable sanitizing washers for glassware and the like



July 6, 1954 M. J. RYAN 2,683,059

. MIXING UNIT FOR PORTABLE sANITIzING wAsHERs ROR GLAsswARE ANO THE LIKE Filed Nov. 13, 195o IL l @il "2" J2 i a-Mmgmm Patented July 6, 1954 UNTED .STAT

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MIXING UNIT FOR PORTABLE SANITIZING WASHERS LIKE FOR GLASSWARE AND THE` 3 Claims.

This invention 'relates to apparatus for the washing and sanitizing of equipment such as food and drink service articles including cups, glasses and other drink containers, as well as plates, dishes, implements and associated food or beverage service items. While adapted for household use the invention has reference more particularly t soda'fountains, lunch counters, bars and the like. It aims to provide improved washer means of the class described and which is especially adapted to handle glassware in the use eld indicated. Among the several objects is the provision of a portable, compact and relative inexpensive yet .highly efficient utensil washing apparatus constructed and arranged for introduction of a detergent into the vwash spray and which is well suited to the use requirements of the businesses noted including particularly the smaller establishments.

In the drawings illustrating by way of example one embodiment of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a complete washer unit;

Fig. 2 is a rightf-side elevation -of'the same;

Figs. 3 and i are respectively horizontal and vertical sections on the lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 and 4 4 of Fig. 2; y .A I

Fig. 5 is a vertical section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 2 upon a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a partial vertical section on the line eel-ii of Fig.Y l; Y

Fig. '7 is an eniarged vertical sectional View of one spray header spinner; and

`Fig. is afurther enlarged detail view as'on theline 3 3 of Fig. 'i showing the spray jet Aorifice construction.

.Referring tothe drawings in further detail and rst noting more particularly Figs. 1 to e and 6, the apparatus as here illustrated cornprises a spray-tight generally cubic enclosure or cabinet It having top and bottom `walls II, i2, opposite side walls I3, I4, a rear wall I5 and an openable front wall I5 constituting a door adapted to be swung out vand down toward the viewer in Fig. 1, by means of the handle bar or the like Ix. Such cabinet Il) may be constructed or" impervious and rust-resisting sheet material, preferably a stainless steel, which or similar noncorrosive material desirably is employed for all parts subject to water and detergent contact.

En the present example the top wall II and the vertical end or sidewalls I3, I4 are formed from a single sheet, the bottom wall. I2 and the III back wall I5 having inturned marginal nanges Y leak-proof union -to the adjoined wall portions as by brazing, welding or the like. At the front the bottom wall flange I2x, see Fig. 6, provides support for the lower half of the elongated hinge means Il, seealso'Fig. 1, the mating upper portion of which is rigidly attached to the outer lower margin of the swinging door I5, said hinge elements being sweated, welded or otherwise securely affixed to the indicated cabinet wall portions. Coil or other-spring means lic., shown in Figs. 1 and2 as associated with kthe hinge, desirably are provided, having sufficient force to urge the door to closed position, so that the door may not carelessly `be left open when the spray is on, and also holding the door firmly closed during operation of the spray.

Spray shielding desirably is provided along the' hinge line of the door IS. For this purpose the latter is formed with an inset and downturned skirt I8 overlapping the Vhinge region and there `affording direct interception of the spray fluid. Spray-proof closure likewise is provided for the other marginal portions of the door I6. As 'here shown, see Fig. 3, the inner side and top wall portions of the cabinet I@ around the door opening carry an inset forwardly extending continuous shielding lip I spaced from the adjacent wall portion suiiiciently to receive with a friction t a conforming angular flange Ita on and perpendicular to the plane of the door It. in the closed position this door sealing ange enters between the shielding lip I@ and the cabinet wall inthe manner best seen in Fig. 3, this together with the pendent door skirt I8 aording a sealing closure completely about the door I6.

The cabinet bottomfwall I2 has a drainage opening 2li preferably central thereof, Figs. 3 and 4, the cabinet bottom being slightly dished toward the drain. A drain chute 2| vis secured and sealed to the under-face of the cabinet bottom wall I2, extending from a position below the drain outlet .Zlifto one side of the cabinet, shown at the left in Figs. l, 3 and fi. The cabnet is appropriately elevated as by angle-iron feet 22 aixed to the bottom wall I2 at the several corner regions. rEhe-cabinet is thus adapted to be removablyset upon a shelf, sink drainboard or the like with the cabinet in adequately raised position to accommodate the drain chute V2| substantially as shown.

Within the cabinet the articles to be cleansed, such as the glasses y-shown dotted in Fig. 4, are placed in any preferred open rack or basket such as the wire-formed cylindrical holder h also shown dotted in Figs. 3 and 4. Such open holder for the articles, dimensioned for sidewise entry into the cabinet Hl, is adapted to be supported during the washing operation in the lower portion of the cabinet I and spaced adequately above the bottom wall I2 to accommodate the upwardly directed rotary spray means to be described. For so supporting the article rack or holder h an open ledge or skeleton shelf is disposed at the appropriate level above the bottom wall l2. Such rack support 25 is herein illustrated as a single rectangular frame disposed with the corners substantially central of the front, back and side walls of the cabinet where it may be fixed as by welding, brazng or the like substantially as indicated at 25m. One or more supporting legs for the shelf also may be provided, particularly adjacent the cabinet door, as at 25a, Fig. 6. The open shelfr25 and basket h present the articles g in position directly accessible to washing sprays both from below and above.

The spray-forming means comprises an updirected lower spray element previously mentioned and preferably also a similar but inverted upper spray element directing the detergentcarrying water downwardly onto the articles. Each such spray means as illustrated comprises a rotary jet-directing element receiving rotation from the force of the fluid itself and directing a sweeping spray completely around the interior of the cabinet, in opposite rotary directions and in angularly offset relation. While in some instances a single spray head preferably below the articles may be employed, spray directed both from below and from above generally is preferable. In the latter case, and as herein illustrated, the spray elements or heads may be similarly constructed, as for example in Figs. 7 and 8. A single inlet to the cabinet for the spray water charged with detergent in a manner to be described is herein shown at about midheight of one of the vertical walls, herein the right side wall I4. Such inlet is shown as a T-coupling fixed by a flange or otherwise against the inner face of the wall I4 with the single branch 3l extending out through an aperture therein. The head of the T is set vertically with the lower and upper openings coupled respectively to lower and upper L- formed feed pipes 32, 32.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. 7 and 8 each feed pipe 32, 32 carries at the inner end, centrally of the cabinet, a bearing sleeve 33 having a lateral boss 34 bored to receive the feed pipe 32. The lower portion of the sleeve 33, as positioned in Fig. 7, is open for free entrance of the spray water and distribution thereof to the rotary sprayers. The upper portion of the sleeve 33 is reduced as at 33a to provide a cylindrical vertical bearing surface for a rotary head 35 including a tubular vertical portion 36 communieating with horizontal diametrally opposed apertures receiving the inner ends of the spray arms proper fixed therein. The head 35 is formed with upper and lower horizontal surfaces 3i vand 38 in the form of stepped shoulders at the upper and lower ends of the reduced portion 33a of the bearing sleeve. In the up-spraying position of Fig. 7 the rotary spray head receives horizontal bearing support mainly at said upper surface 3l. Its lower reduced end is threaded to receive a retainer and bearing disc 39. In the inverted position as at the upper portion of Fig. 4 horizontal bearing support is afforded by said disc 39 and the shouldered surface 38 corresponding to surface 38 above mentioned. The receiving chamber portion of the bearing sleeve 33 is accessibly sealed by a threaded cap 33h.

The spray members or arms 40, of which two are here shown for each head, comprise pipes or tubing of a length to extend into proximity to but with adequate clearance of the cabinet walls. Each arm 40 has a longitudinal series of jetforming spray apertures 4I. As seen for example in Fig. 3, these jet apertures 4| 'are arranged along a sinuous line, on each of the diametrically opposed portions of the spray arms Q3, that is, at the opposite sides of the hub or rotary head 35 and 35 of the lower and the upper spray elements. Further, the snuously disposed aperture series are differently spaced lengthwise as to the two opposed sections of each spray arm, so that the spray pattern at the opposite portions of the given arm are varied relative to each other, thus varying the spray pattern as between the two and affording greater total spray dispersion. Still further in this connection the apertures lil are formed with Vertical center lines, as seen in Fig. 8, rather than upon radial center lines. Thus additional variation of the spray pattern is had, as between apertures which are more or less spaced laterally from the central vertical plane through the arm, that is, in the direction crosswise of the sinuous curve line of the aperture series. Also for insured adequate central spray coverage jet apertures desirably are provided also in the rotary heads 35 themselves, as clearly seen in Fig. 3. As there shown these may include a central aperture and a circumferential series, the latter individually disposed with their axes at a slight angle to the vertical. As also apparent from Fig. 8 in connection with the others the location 'of the vertically drilled jet apertures of the sinuous series thereof includes offsetting of a number thereof to a predetermined angular extent relative to the central vertical plane. This offset angle is made sufficient so that the emergent jet affords a lateral thrust rotatively effective upon the arm and yet, largely due to the vertical axis of the individual apertures, has a main upward or downward direction permitting direct contact of the spray onto the contained articles. rI'he preferred oset angle with respect to the vertical plane is somewhat less than and of the order of 20 to 30; Fig. 8. Noting again Fig. 7 and comparing Fig. 3 the offsetting of the jets l of the diametrally opposed arms of a given spray head is predominantly respectively to the opposite sides of the vertical plane. Thus at the two sides the rotating moment is effective in the same rotation-generating direction, as indicated by the arrow on Fig. 3. Also as indicated by arrows on Fig. 4, the inversion of the upper head 35 with respect to the lower head 35 causes the direction of rotational swinging of the upper and lower sprays to be mutually opposite.

As seen in Fig. 3, means desirably is included for adjusting the spray action as appropriate for the water pressure available at the particular point of use. For this purpose one or both end portions of each arm 4B have one or more jet apertures as at lloc which are adapted to be opened or closed wholly or in part by adjustable closure means shown as screw plugs G2 or caps having threaded engagement with the spray arm. By advancing these end closure members 2 into or retracting them longitudinally from the spray arm one or all of the end jets dla: may be exposed or may be covered or reduced. This serves to decrease or increase the total jet force as appropriate for the given water pressure and to regu- "late the rotational speed of "the spray farms wardly at an angle of vabout -5 to 10, that is,

with the aexit ends nearer the rotary head or 35 .than the entrance ends at the inner face of :the pipe wall. This again Ygives improved spray direction with reference to the side walls of the outer objects of the group thereof being treated. l

The spray system coordinated with the portable enclosure or cabinet I`0 further comprises in conjunction with the water inlet an injector means for introducing a detergent into the spray water. In accordance with the invention such means, while capable of handling a detergent charge in powdered form, is especially constructed and arranged to receive a pellet, wafer or like unit of the detergent material bonded together for unit handling and insertion yet readily soluble in the entering flow stream. One such pellet, which may be of any known or preferred composition having acceptable cleaning and germicidal or sterilizing properties, is indicated at P in Fig. 5.

The injector device as illustrated is carried by the external portion of the fluid inlet. As seen in Figs. 1 to 3 and on a larger scale in Fig. 5, it comprises a receiver body containing a mixing chamber 5l having an inlet 52 for hot Water under pressure from the supply and an outlet 53 for the detergent-charged spray uid to the coupling branch 3| and thence to the lower and upper rotary spray heads 35. Spaced above the chamber 5I the receiver 50 has a holding cell 55 dimensioned to accept a pellet P of the calculated size and detergent content appropriate for one washing operation, and to afford iiow space around the pellet. That is, the horizontal area and depth of the cell are greater than the corresponding dimensions of the pellet. This space for disintegrating action of the water on the pellet is augmented by a complementary cell portion 56 in the removable top wall and closure 60 for the receiver body 50, shown as a lid or cover member conformant in size and shape to the receiver body and hinged to it as'at 6I. VThe cover cell portion 56 is circumferentially bounded by an annular rib 62 integrally formed on the under face of the cover G and adapted for sealing engagement in the closed cover position with a packing ring 63 of neoprene or' othercompressible rubberous material set into the top face of the receiver body 5U in surrounding relation to the pellet cell 55, 56. Y

The incoming supply water is conducted to the injector body 50 by a supply pipe or tubing E5 leading to and secured at the bottom inlet 52. It is directed to enter the pellet cell by a guiding deflector 5l centrally disposed directly opposite the inlet 52 and inclined to direct the main pressure flow to a plurality of relatively small injector ports 58 distributed crcumferentially over a substantial arc of the pellet position. These injector ports admit the water at Vstepped-up pressure to the pellet cell 55,v 56 and into dissolving contact with the pellet therein. The water and detergent charge picked up by it in the cell passes via a preferably somewhat larger cell outlet port 59, small enough to block any substantial fragments of the pellet before dissolution, to the mixing chamber 5I. There it cornmingles with some portion of the incoming supply ilow and thence through the mixing chamber outlet 53 into the described spray system for distribution to the spray heads. The cover 55 is adapted to be locked or clamped in the closed position of Figs. 1 and 2 sealingr the pellet cell and I injector body'as a whole. Such means is illusvas in Figs. land 2, or released and thrown open to receive a pellet, as in Fig. 3.

Further in accordance with the invention manual means is provided for starting and stopping a washing cycle by turning on and off the incoming hot Water supply, such flow control desirably being correlated with the detergent injector means that the water may be turned on to start a cycle only when the pellet cell cover is closed, thereby insuring against unintentional escape of water at the injector. Such means herein comprises an on-oi' and now-regulating vaive 66 installed in the supply line or pipe 65 and having an operating handle 6l of convenient size for grasping by the operator. It is arranged to have an erect position substantially as in Fig. 2 in the full 01T status of the valve, and to open the latter by swinging forwardly and down to the left in Fig. 2, counterclockwise. When the injector cover S0 is turned back into open or pellet-receiving position, as seen in Fig. 3, a laterally projecting lug 59 thereon stands in front of a cooperating stop lug 68 on the valve handle 6l. Thus the valve is locked against opening movement unless and until the pellet-cell cover E!) is closed.

I claim:

l. For utensil washing apparatus of the cabinet type having an inlet for wash liquid, a detergent charge receiving mixing unit for mounting at the liquid inlet externally of the cabinet, said mixer being provided with a closure movable between sealing and open charge-receiving positions, a supply line to the mixer, valve means on the supply line to the mixer and having a manual operating member for starting and stopping supply of liquid to said mixer, and intercorrelating means formed by projections on the mixing unit closure and the valve operating member preventing the starting of a supply of liquid when the 'closure is open for insertion of a detergent charge.

`2. For utensil washing apparatus having a washing compartment to receive washing liquid v'ia an inlet, a detergent charge mixing unit for connection with the compartment inlet, com? prising a mixing chamber having an inlet port for the supply liquid and an outlet port, a detergent charge holding cell communicating with the mixing chamber through a series of relatively small ports and an opposed relatively large port, and a deflector positioned at the mixing chamber inlet, whereby a substantial portion of the supply stream is diverted through the small ports to the holding cell for dissolving the detergent charge and returned through the large port for the supply liquid and an-cutlet port, a

detergent charge holding cell communicating with the mixing chamber through a series of 7 relatively small ports and an opposed relatively large port, a deflector positioned at the mixing chamber inlet, whereby a substantial portion of the supply stream is diverted through the small ports to the holding cell for dissolving the detergent charge and returned through the large port to the mixing chamber for commingling with the remainder of the supply before passing to the Washing compartment, a movable closure for the detergent holding cell openable for charging the same, and holding means insuring against opening movement of the closure when supply liquid is being supplied.

References vCited in the le of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 414,346 Wainwright Nov. 5, 1889 2,238,849 Kastberg Apr. 15, 1941 lo 2,286,828 Prizer June 16, 1942 2,563,652 Le Gore Aug. 7, 1951 

